Friday, February 23, 2007

Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimate

Mavic is poised to release a new Carbone for 2007. PRO teams rode these wheels discreetly as prototypes in the 2006 TDF and they have finally made it to prime time. The Saunier Duval team has been riding them in Mallorca and ROAD's very own Neil Brown had an opportunity to ride them. The wheels have a very "Lightweight" look to them, complete with tall hub flanges and kevlar spokes. If the wheels come with the optional Mavic Potection Program, Lightweight may have some issues at hand.

Check out this site: Roues Artisanales and all the crazy PRO action on it. There is also a piece on the 2008 Shimano group complete with updated pics of the electronic group.

6 comments:

There are so many new wheel choices out there that I'm at a point of information overload. I've been drooling over some Reynolds for a while, but I've got to give credit to Mavic, they are doing their best to keep up. And the Mavic wheels that we have had in the past have never given us an issue - ever. Thanks for the heads up.

If they are round and true and the hubs are in good shape I think $425 is a great deal. If you have never ridden deep section wheels get ready for what I call a "gear higher" experience. Deep section wheels are so fast that you get the feeling that you could easily ride a gear higher. Some deep sections are heavier than a traditional 32 spoke wheel or Ksyrium type but once they get up to speed they scream! Add in two $90 tires and the deal is even sweeter. PRO.

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Belgium Knee Warmers Defined

For many professional cyclists the Spring campaign is the toughest of the season; it means training from October until March in the worst, character-building weather conditions Europe can dish out. This weather and the suffering that is bicycle racing breed characters known as "hardmen".

Select cyclists tackle these conditions in shorts, long sleeve jerseys or short sleeve jerseys with arm warmers, wind vests, and shoe covers. A true hardman opts to forego the knee or leg warmers and instead chooses an embrocation to cover the knees. The liniment provides warmth for the legs and keeps the blood circulating and muscles supple. Embrocation and the sheen created is affectionately known as "Belgium knee warmers". The hardest of cyclists will sport bare legs in the most ruthless of conditions.

Belgium Knee Warmers are indicitive of the many subtleties that make professional cycling so enthralling.

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Profile

I spent 20 years of my life working in the bicycle industry, turning wrenches and selling bikes for some of the industry's best shops. I have extensive experience designing and constructing frames in both steel and titanium and have performed thousands of bike fits. I am passionate about bicycles in all forms. The bicycle provides me with physical and mental health and taps me into a social pipeline that allows me to share my passion with others. I ride as often as possible and love the flow of a hard group ride. Check back for musings about all things road cycling and, especially, the Spring Classics. The devil is in the details and I am an expert in the useless minutia that makes up our discipline.